Collapsible carton



May 10, 1960 w. H. DE BLAERE COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 1, 1956 INVENTOR, WILLIAM H. DE BLAERE HIS ATTORNEY May 10, 1960 w.H. DE BLAERE COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1956INVENTOR, WILLIAM H. DE BLAERE HIS ATTORNEY May 10, 1960 w. H. DE BLAERE2,936,104

COLLAFSIBLE CARTON I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1956 INVENTOR, DEBLAERE WILLIAM H.

HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent ce 2,936,104 Patented May 10, 19602,936,104 I COLLAPSIBLE CARTON William H. De Blaere, Newark, N.Y.,assignor to Bloomer grog; Company, Newark, N.Y., a corporation of NewApplication June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,679

Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to collapsible cartons madeof fibrous material, such as cardboard, for packaging ice cream andother frozen comestibles, and the like. As the result of a recentinvention, such cartons have been provided with bottom flaps soconstructed as to be automatically unfolded and extended by manipulationof the side walls. This automatic bottom construction has been combinedwith a side opening pull flap and has resulted in a practical and usefulcarton, which has been widely used in this field. However, these cartonswere so constructed that when the side opening flap was pulled and theclosure wall opened, the bottom flaps were moved out of engagement andthe carton became partially unfolded and unfit for further use.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved carton ofthe general character described, but so constructed as to remainsubstantially intact when opened for partial removal of the contents,and thus, kept in condition for being reclosed for further preservationof the remaining contents.

Another object is to provide a carton of the above nature which isprovided with positive means for holding the opposite ends of the cartonerect, particularly the bottom end, when the closure wall is opened.

Another object is to provide a carton having the above advantages inwhich the means for holding the bottom of the carton erect is integralwith the remaining portions of the carton and does not require anyadditional stock.

Another object is to provide a carton of the above nature which is soconstructed as to be readily manufactured, conveniently erected forfilling and conveniently opened by the consumer, as described below.

A further object is to afford a carton having the above advantages in aform capable of being readily manufactured in quantity lots, by knownmachines and at relatively low cost.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank cut and scored ready forfolding to form a carton embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bottom flap portions folded over andglue applied;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the blank as seen'from the bottom in Fig. 2,but with the outer wall portions partially folded over toward gluedposition;

'Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, butwith the parts glued together and thecarton in collapsed condition;

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan views from the inside of the carton inprogressive positions of erecting for filling;

Figs. 7 and 8 are bottom plan views from the outside of the carton inprogressive positions of erection for filling substantiallycorresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the carton in erected position with thetop flaps open for filling;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the carton showing the same erected,filled and closed;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the carton as viewed from the oppositeend in Fig. 10, showing the carton after being opened for'removal of aportion of the contents;.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the inside ofthe bottom end of the carton showing the locking arrangement betweeninner flaps, and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the inside ofthe bottom end of the carton showing a slightly modified construction ofthe locking arrangement between the inner flaps.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed byway of illustration, is preferably made of a onepiece blank such asshown in Fig. l of the drawings, cut and scored to form front,intermediate, rear and closure walls, 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively,separated by parallel scored fold lines 28, 30 and 32, as shown. Asecuring strip 34 is foldably connected with closure Wall 26 along afold line 36 which is parallel to fold lines 28, 30 and 32, as shown inFig. 1. Securing strip 34 is adapted to be detachably glued to the freeedge portion of the opposite or front wall 20- when the walls are foldedover as hereafter described.

Closure wall 26 is preferably provided adjacent the bottom of the cartonwith a line of weakening which com--- prises a slit 38 extendingpartially through the materialf. forming the closure wall, for any knownmeans whereby' the material forming the closure wall is weakenedforcontrolling the direction and extent of the tearing actiom .of theclosure wall. Slit 38 which is partially cut through:

the closure wallon the under surface thereof (upper sur-- face as viewedin Fig. 1), extends substantially trans-- versely across the closurewall from the front to the rear edge thereof, and is spaced slightlyupwardly from the fold line between the closure wall and its attachedbottonn flap, as shown in Fig. 1, for a purpose hereafter described.

Front wall 20 preferably has an undulating slit 40 extending thereacrossadjacent the upper free edge there of, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11.. Slit40 extends only partially through the structure forming the front wallandl provides a weakened outer surface area 42 to aid in the opening ofthe carton and to prevent peeling of front wall 20 when the carton isopened. Front wall 20 has a notch 44 formed in the upper edge thereofadjacent the bottom end of the carton, for a purpose hereafterdescribed. Securing strip 34 is preferably provided with a slit 46adjacent its line of fold with closure wall 26 to prevent an extensionof surface peeling of securing strip 34 into the closure wall when thecarton is opened. Side walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 are provided with topclosure flaps 48, 50, 52 and 54, respectively, which are fold-ablyconnected therewith along a score line 56. Flap may be completely foldedand glued by the manufacr will fold inwardly inside the carton when thecarton side;

further use.

walls are collapsed, and will automatically move outwardly to theirerected positions normal to the side walls of the carton, when thecarton is erected. A carton of the above-general nature was disclosed inthe prior patent to William H. Inman and Raynor M. Holmes, No.2,655,304. However, in the above patented construction the bottom of thecarton separated when the closure wall was opened and thereby made thecarton unfit for However, I have devised a construction, as shown in thepresent application, whereby a carton may be constructed, having anautomatic bottom with the above advantages, but which is also providedwith positive means for holding the bottom of the carton in erectedposition, when the closure wall is opened.

More specifically, in the present construction I provide certain of thebottom flaps with positive interengaging means which, when the carton ismoved to erected position by the user, interengage and securely lock theflaps in erected position thereby holding the bottom of the carton erectas the closure wall is subsequently opened. To this end, I preferablyprovide four bottom closure members or flaps which are foldablyconnected with the carton side walls along a score line 62. A pair ofinwardly folding outer bottom flaps 64 and 66 are located opposite oneanother and preferably are foldably connected to front and rear walls 20and 24, respectively. Flaps 64 and 66 are provided with score lines 68and 70, respectively, extending diagonally across and separating each ofthem into two portions, as at 72 and 74 (Fig. 1) so that each may befolded over itself and over the side wall to which it is connected, ashereafter described.

. 4 area 94 on flap 64, and to a similar restricted area 96 on flap 66.Glue is likewise applied in a narrow band 98 on securing strip 34adjacent its line of fold, leaving an unglued outer portion 100 toprovide a free pull tab which is preferably extended and formed with anextension 102 which is foldably connected with securing strip 34 along adiagonally extending score line 104, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the further folding and gluing of the blank, front wall 20 and flap64 are folded over intermediate wall 22 and its attached bottom flap 80.This brings glue portion 94 of flap 64 into contact with the outersurface of flap 80. Closure wall 26 and attached flap 82 are folded overrear wall 24 and fiap 66, thereby bringing flap 82 into engagement withglue area 96 of flap 66 and bringing glue portion 98 of securing strip34 into engagement with weakened area 42 of front wall 20. Notch 44 infront wall 20 accommodates member 88 and prevents an overlapping offront wall 20 by flap 82. This completes the folding and gluing of thecarton in compact, collapsed condition shown in Fig. 4, ready forstorage and shipment to ice cream dispensers and the like.

Flaps 64 and 80, and flaps 66 and 82, when secured together as above,form two interengaging bottom closure sections, each comprising an innerand outer bottom flap. When it is desired to erect the carton forfilling, the bottom closure sections are quickly snapped to theirerected positions by inward pressure against opposite edges 106 Theouter free edges of flaps 64 and 66 have the irregular shape shown inthe drawings, including notches 76 and 78, respectively, for engagementwith each other in the erectedposition of the carton.

Intermediate wall 22 has a substantially rectangular bottom flap 80foldably connected therewith along fold line 62. Closure wall 26 has asubstantially trapezoidal flap 82 foldably connected therewith, as shownin Fig. l. Flap 80 has a portion cut away along the side edge adjacentflap 64 for forming an inwardly tapering notch 84 (Fig. 1) having anabutment 86 at thewide end thereof. Abutment 86 may slope inwardly ormay be somewhat concave, as shown in Fig. 1. The abutment at the innerend of notch 84 may also extend in a direction parallel to fold lines 56and 62, as shown at 86' in Fig. 13.

Flap 82 has a part or member 88 projecting beyond its normal right handedge (as viewed in Fig 1). Part 88 extends beyond the projection of thelongitudinal axis of score line 36, and is formed at the base thereofwith a line of bending 90 (Fig. 1) which preferably comprises a seriesof short slits cut into the under surface of the flap (as viewed inFig. 1) for allowing member 88 to bend relative to the remainingportionof the flap. Member 88 is formed at the inner end with a lockingshoulder 92. While I have shown locking shoulder 92 as extending in adirection substantially parallel with fold lines 56 and 62, it will beunderstood that shoulder 92 might be concave or might be shallower atthe inner end thereof adiacent line of fold 90. That is, since shoulder92 cooperates with abutment 86 or 86' for holding the 'lower end of thecarton erect when the closure wall is opened, as hereafter described, itwill be understood that both the shoulder and abutment are preferablyshaped so that the opening action holds them in, rather than moving themout of, interengagement.

In the folding and gluing of the blank, as shown in Fig. 2, bottom flap64 is folded on itself and folded inwardly over front wall 20, as shown.Flap 80 is folded over intermediate wall 22. Flap 66 is folded on itselfand folded inwardly over rear wall 24 and flap 82 is folded over closurewall 26. In this position of the parts, glue. or other suitable adhesiveis applied to a restricted and 108 (Fig. 4) which serves to shape anddistend the side walls in the progressive manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6,as viewed through the open top of the container, and in Figs. 7 and8, asviewed from the bottom of the container. The separation of closure wall26 from rear wall 24 tends to pull inwardly folded flap 66 and innerbottom flap 82 to erected positions, while the separation of front wall20 from intermediate wall 22 pulls inwardly folded flap 64 and innerbottom flap to erected positions. Flap 64 is provided with a smallprojecting part or tab which engages the outer surface of inner bottomflap 82 to initiate proper erection of the bottom flaps in the desiredsequential order. Flap 64 is provided with a second and largerprojecting part or tab 112 which is located along the free edge of theinner portion 72 of flap 64 adjacent score line 68, as shown in Fig. 1.Part 112 rides along the outer surface of inner bottom flap 82 of theopposite bottom section while outer bottom flap 66 rides along the outersurface of inner bottom flap 80. The inner portion of flap 64, includingpart 112 rides along flap 82 beneath the outer portion of oppositebottom flap 66, while the inner portion of flap 66 rides beneath theouter portion of flap 64, as can be seen in Fig. 8. As a result, theopposite edges of flaps 64 and 66 slide along the outer surfaces of theopposite inner bottom flaps until flaps 64 and 66 come intointerengagement, as shown in Fig. 8, with notches 76 and 78interengaged. Such engagement of the notches tends to limit the erectingmovement of flaps 64 and 66 with these flaps in a position normal to thewalls of the carton. The erecting movement of the bottom flaps is alsopreferably limited by their interengagement and by the engagement of theinner bottom'flap 80 with the inside of flaps 64 and 66 along the bottomcorners of the carton.

During the movement of the bottom flaps to their erected positions,member 88 on 'flap 82 strikes against the inside surface of front wall20. Since member 88 projects beyond the body of flap 82, member 88 makesflap 82 wider than the bottom end of the carton, and is bent upwardlytoward the open end of the carton by the action of the front wall 20 inholding back against it as flap 82'moves to fully erected position.Notch 84 infla'p 80 is positioned to overlie member 88, as shown in Fig.12, and provides clearance for member 88 to be bent upwardly towards theopen end of the carton. This positions member 88 so that shoulder 92 isin lockrelation with abutment 86 of notch 84.

When closure wall 26 is opened it tends to move flap 82 upwardly in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12. However, this upwardmovement of fiap 82 is resisted by the engagement of abutment 86 or 86and shoulder 92, which prevents flap 82 from moving out of its erectedposition shown in Fig. 8. As a result, closure wall 26 may be readilyseparated from flap 82 along slit 38, as hereafter more fully described.

Thus, my novel construction provides a positive connection between thefront and rear walls of the carton through flaps 80 and 64, and 82 and66, so that the bottom of the carton will remain erect when the closurewall is opened. While in Fig. 12 I have shown locking member 88 andlocking notch 84 so formed that abutment 86 and shoulder 92 are slightlyspaced from one another in the erected position of the carton, this isnot necessary and the above members may be formed was togbe in directengagement when the carton is in the erected position, as shown in Fig.13. It will be understood that when I refer to locking member 88 andnotch 84 as being in locking relation 1 include forming the members sothat they are in direct locking engagement,

as shown in Fig. 13, or are spaced slightly apart as shown in'Fig. 12.The contents of the carton aid in holding inner bottom flap 80 in fullyerected position normal to the side walls of the carton, and thus,locking member-88 and notch 84 in their proper positions. It should benoted that flap 80 is preferably the same size as the bottom end of thecarton and overlies diagonal score lines 68 and 70 for the full lengththereof, thereby providing a substantially leak-proof bottom closure,and also providing a smooth interior for the bottom end of the carton.

The carton is quickly snapped to its above erected position by merelypressing on opposite corners 106 and 108, as stated, leaving the topclosure flaps in open position, as shown in Fig. 9, to receive thecontents. The carton resting on its bottom, is then filled and the topclosed by folding flaps 50 and 54 down across the filling opening, inorder, after which fiap 48 is folded down followed by flap 52. Tongue 60of flap 52 is engaged in slit 58 of flap 48 to secure the closure of thetop or filling opening. It will be noted that tongue 60 is on the flapof the rear wall to which the closure wall is also attached and ispointed in the direction of the closure wall so that an opening pull onthe latter serves to keep the tongue in engagement with the slit to maintain the top end of the carton closed. The carton is now in thecondition shown in Fig. and is ready to be delivered to the consumer.

To open the carton, it is only necessary to grasp the unglued edge ofsecuring strip 34. For this purpose, tab or extension 102 may be readilybent relative to securing strip 34 about fold line 104. The opening ofclosure wall 26 is made easier by the provision of weakened area 42 onthe upper free edge of front wall 20. This .weakened area not only makesit easier to break thedetachable connection between securing strip 34and front wall 20, but it also prevents undesired surface peeling ofeither the front wall or securing strip. Slit 46 also prevents undesiredsurface peeling of closure wall 26 by preventing any peeling of securingstrip 34 from extending into closure wall 26.

After securing strip 34 is detached from front wall 20, it is necessaryto separate closure wall 26 from bottom flap 82 which is foldablyconnected therewith. I have found it is desirable to separate the abovewall and flapalong a line extending transversely across the closure walladjacent the lower or bottom end of the carton. I have found that if thecarton is made of cylinder board or paper and the blank is positioned sothat the fibers extend substantially transversely across the closurewall, closure wall 26 may be moved to'open position, as shown in Fig.11, and separated from botdirection, as by means of an'upward pull onsecuring strip 34.- However, I have found that closure wall 26 may bemore readily separated from bottom flap 82 if the closure wall isprovided with a suitable line of weakening along which the tearingaction may readily take place in a predetermined manner and direction.

To this end, closure wall 26 is preferably provided with a. slit 38,extending substantially transversely thereacross adjacent the lower endof the carton. Slit 38 preferably extends into closure strip 34 for asufficient distance to intersect with slit 46. When the closure wall isopened, the tearing action moves along slit 38. Not only does slit 38provide a line of weakening along which the tearing action may readilyoccur, but slit 38 przlyl ents any undesired surface peeling of theclosure w When the carton is opened in the manner described above, bothends remain erect, as shown in Fig. 11. The upper end of the cantonremains erect because flap 54 which is foldably connected with closurewall 26 may be moved independently of top locking flaps 48 and 52, andtherefore, the opening of the closure wall does not disturb the lockingaction of flaps 48 and 52. That is, although top flap 54 is held inclosed position by flaps 48 and 52 when the canton is in closedposition, as shown in Fig. 10, flap 54 at the same time is held out ofcontact with the contents of the carton by flap 50. Therefore, whenclosure wall 26 is raised, flap 54 readily moves upwardly with theclosure wall to its position shown in Fig. 11, while the remaining topflaps are maintained in closed position, thereby holding the upper endof the carton in shape, as shown in Fig. 11.

The lower end of the carton remains erect because of the uniqueconstruction and arrangement of the bottom flaps. Specifically, there isa positive connection between the front and rear walls of the cartonindependent of closure wall 26, adjacent the lower end of the carton.This connection comprises inner bottom flaps and 82 which remaininlocking engagement when closure wall 26 is opened, as described above,and outer bottom flaps 66 and 64. That is, inner bottom flap 82 is heldin its erected position by the locking engagement between member '88 andnotch 84. Since flap 32 is fastened to outer flap '66 by means ofadhesive 96, and flap 66 is foldably connected to rear wall 24, fiap 82is thus connected to rear wall 24. Therefore, as flap 82 remains in itsnormal erected position when the closure wall is opened, as shown inFig. 11, rear wall 24 is held in its normal erected position. The abovepositive connection between the front and rear walls of the carton alsoincludes inner bottom flap 80 which is in engagement with flap 82 andouter bottom flap 64 which is foldably connected to front wall 20 and issecured to flap 80 by glue area 94. As a result, flap 8'0 is con nectedto the front wall of the carton. Therefore, since flap 80 has a positiveconnection with the front wall 20 and flap 82 has a positive connectionwith rear wall 24, it will be seen that the interlocking engagementbetween. flaps 80 and 82 holds the front and rear walls and the bottomend of the carton erect when closure wall 26 is opened.

Thus, it will be seen from the above relationship of the parts that boththe top and bottom ends of the carton remain erect when closure wall 26is detached from front wall 20 and separated from associated bottom flap82. With the carton in its position shown in Fig. 11, the contents maybe removed to the desired extent and the carton reclosed for replacingunder refrigeration to preserve the residue of the contents for furtherconsumption. This may be readily accomplished by merely inserting topflap 54 outside of top flap 50, but inside of tom'flap. 82 byexertingsufiicient force in the opening '15 strip 34 inside of front wall 20.

The invention as herein disclosed, comprises related embodiments of theinventions disclosed in thecopending applications of William H. Inman,Serial Nos. 588,731 and 588,730 filed June 1, 1956, now patents numbered2,684,180 and 2,878,986, respectively, and certain features disclosedbut not claimed herein are claimed in said copending applications. v 7

Thus, it will be seen from the above description that my inventionprovides a carton which may be readily and economically manufacturedwith the usual materials and by known methods and standard machines incompact, collapsed condition for storage or shipment to foijddispensers. The latter may erect the carton by merely pressing on itsopposite corners toerect the automatic bottom construction. Thereafter,the carton maybe easily filled at the top and closed in the usual manneruntil ready for delivery to the consumer. The consumer can readily openthe carton to remove a portion of the contents by pulling on tab 102 soas to swing the closure wall into open position in which the contentsare exposed for dipping out to the extent desired. When the carton isopened, as above, both the top and bottom ends and the side walls remainerect sothat the carton may be readily reclosed to preserve theremaining contents. The front and rear walls of the carton are helderect at each end thereof by positive interlocking connection.

In addition, it will be seen that cartons having the above advantagesmay be readily andeconomically manufactured with a minimum of loss. Thatis, the blanks as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are so designed that there is aminimum of wastage of cardboard stock material, and these cartonsrequire no more material than doknown cartons having automatic bottomconstructions of the type that separate when the closure wall is opened.7

Thus, my invention provides improved cartons requiring no more materialthan cartons heretofore made but having the additional advantage of apositive connection between the front and rear walls for holding thecarton erect when the closure wall is opened.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects andwhile it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and folded to form foldably connected side walls and aclosure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and theopposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position,said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connectedthereto at the opposite ,ends thereof, said bottom fiaps being arrangedin pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flapsbeing fixedly secured to the adjacent inner flapfor forming the bottomof the carton in sections, the outer flap of each section having afolding score line extending thereacross diagonally inwardly from thecorner of the carton included by said section, said outer flaps beingfoldable inwardly about said score lines together with saidinner flapsupon relative lateral shifting of said walls to collapsed position, saidbottom sections being moved to erected closed position normal to saidwalls by erecting movement of said walls, one of said inner bottom flapshaving a locking abutment formed along one edge thereof, a lockingshoulder on the other of said inner bottom flaps positioned forengagement with said abutment, in the erected position of the carton,said abutmentrand shoulder being moved into interlocking position by theerecting movement of said bottom closure sections for holding the bottomof the carton erect when the closure wall is opened, one of said outerbottom flaps overlying said abutment and shoulder when in interlockedposition for preventing leakage around said abutment an'd shoul der, andlocking means on two of said top closure flaps for releasably lockingsaid top closure flaps in closed positionin the erected position of thecarton, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side walland separable from the bottom flap connected with said closure wall formovement to open position to expose the carton contents said lockingabutment and said locking shoulder holding said inner bottom flaps inerected position, each of said inner bottom flaps remaining secured tothe adjacent outer bottom flap whereby said bottom sections remainintact and in erected position, said bottom sections holding said frontand rear walls of the carton in erected position.

2. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and. folded to form foldably connected side walls and aclosure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and theopposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position,said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connectedthereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arrangedin pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, one of said inner bottomflaps being larger than the other inner bottom flap and being innermostwhen the carton is in erected position, each of said outer flaps beingfixedly secured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of thecarton in sections, the'outer' flap of each section having a foldingscore line extending thereacross diagonally inwardly from the cornerof-the carton included by said section, said outer flaps being foldableinwardly about said score lines together with said inner flaps uponrelative lateral shifting of said walls to collapsed position, saidbottom sections being moved to erected closed position normal to saidwalls by erecting movement of said walls, the innermost of said innerbot-- inner bottom flaps, said shoulder extending beyond an edge of itsassociated flap in position for engagement with the inner surface ofsaid opposite side wall as the bot torn closure flaps are swung toerected position for movement out of the plane of said associated flapand across the plane of said abutment into locking engagementtherewith,and locking means on two of said top closure ,flaps for releasablylocking said top closure flaps in closed position in the erectedposition of, the cartomsaid closure wall being detachable from saidopposite side wall'and separable from the bottom flap connected withsaidf closure wall for movement to, open position to. expose the cartoncontents, said locking abutment and said locking shoulder holding saidinner bottom flaps in erectedposition, each of said inner bottom flapssecuredto the.

adjacent outer flap whereby said bottom sections remain intact and inerected position, said bottom sections main:

taining the front and rear walls of the carton in erected position.

3. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and folded to form folde ably connected side walls and aclosure Wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and theopposite side wall for securing said closure wallin closed position,

said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connectedthereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bot tom flaps being arrangedin pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flapsbeing secured'to the shifting of said walls to collapsed position, saidbottom sections being moved to erected closed position normal to saidwalls by erecting movement of said walls, one of said inner bottom flapshaving substantially the size and shape of the inside bottom of thecarton to cover the same and having a locking abutment formed along oneedge thereof, a locking shoulder on the other of said inner bottom flapspositioned for engagement with said abutment in the erected position ofthe carton, said abutment and shoulder being moved into interlockingposition by the erecting movement of said bottom closure sections forholding the bottom end of the carton erect when the closure wall isopened, and locking means on two of said top closure flaps forreleasably locking said top closure flaps in closed position in theerected position of the carton, said closure wall being formed with aline of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of thecarton, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side walland separable along said line of weakening from the bottom flapconnected with said closure wall for movement to open position to exposethe carton contents with the carton in erected position.

4. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and folded to form foldably connected side walls and aclosure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and theopposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position,said walls having top and bottom closure flaps fold-ably connectedthereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arrangedin pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, one of said inner bottomflaps being larger than the other inner bottom flap and being innermostwhen the carton is in erected position, each of said outer flaps beingfixedly secured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of thecarton in sections, the outer flap of each section having a foldingscore line extending thereacross diagonally inwardly from the corner ofthe carton included by said section, said outer flaps being foldableinwardly about said score lines together with said inner flaps uponrelative lateral shifting of said walls to collapsed position, saidbottom sections being moved to erected closed position norm-a1 to saidwalls by erecting movement of said walls, the innermost of said innerbottom flaps being formed with a locking abutment along one edge thereofpositioned to underlie the upper free edge of said opposite side wallwhen the carton is in erected position, a locking shoulder on the otherof said inner bottom flaps, said shoulder extending beyond an edge ofits associated flap in position for engagement with the inner surface ofsaid opposite side wall as the bottom closure flaps are swung to erectedposition for movement out of the plane of said associated flap andacross the plane of said abutment into locking engagement therewith, oneof said outer bottom flaps overlying said bottom locking members when ininterlocked position for preventing leakage therearound, and lockingmeans on two of said top closure flaps for releasably locking said topclosure flaps in closed position in the erected position of the carton,said closure wall being formed with a line of weakening extendingthereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton, said closure wall beingdetachable from said opposite side wall and separable along said line ofweakening from the bottom flap connected with said closure wall formovement to open position to expose the carton contents, said locking 10abutment and said locking shoulder holding said inner bottom flaps inerected position, each of said inner bottom flaps secured to theadjacent outer flap whereby said bottom sections remain intact and inerected position, said bottom sections maintaining the front and rearwalls of the carton in erected position.

5. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, intermediaterear and closure walls, a securing strip on said closure wall detachablyglued to the free edge of said front wall for securing said closure wallin closed position, said walls having top and bottom closure flapsfoldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottomflaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, saidinner flaps being foldably connected with said intermediate and closurewalls, one of said inner bottom flaps being larger than the other innerbottom flap and being innermost when the carton is in erected position,each of said outer flaps being fixedly secured to the adjacent innerflap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, the outer flap ofeach section having a folding score line extending thereacrossdiagonally inwardly from the corner of the carton included by saidsection, said outer flaps being foldable inwardly about said score linestogether with said inner flaps upon relative lateral shifting of saidwalls to collapsed position, said bottom sections being moved to erectedclosed position normal to said walls by erecting movement of said walls,the innermost of said inner bottom flaps being connected with saidintermediate wall and being formed with a locking abutment along oneedge thereof positioned to underlie the upper free edge of said frontwall when the carton is in erected position, a locking shoulder on theinner bottom flap connected with said closure wall, said shoulderextending beyond an edge of its associated flap in position forengagement with the inner surface of the front wall as the bottomclosure flaps are swung to erected position for movement out of theplane of said associated flap and across the plane of said abutment intolocking engagement therewith, one of said outer bottom fiaps overlyingsaid bottom locking members when in interlocked position for preventingleakage therearound, and locking means on two of said top closure flapsfor releasably locking said top closure flaps in closed position in theerected position of the carton, said closure Wall being formed with aline of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of thecarton, said closure wall being detachable from said front wall andseparable along said line of weakening from the bottom flap connectedwith said closure wall for movement to open position to expose thecarton contents, said locking abutment and said locking shoulder holdingsaid inner bottom [flaps in erected position, each of said inner bottomflaps secured to the adjacent outer flap whereby said bottom sectionsremain intact and in erected position, said bottom sec tions maintainingthe front and rear walls of the carton in erected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,662,698 Crarner Mar. 13, 1928 2,011,232 Parks et all. Aug. 13,19352,655,304 Inman et al Oct. 13, 1953 2,686,629 Inman Aug. 17, 1954

